Explain how the atom is electrically neutral, having an equal number of protons and electrons.

A neutral atom have equal number of proton and electron. In other words we can say that negative and positive charges are equal in magnitude and cancel the each other and atom become neutral.

Explanation:

An atom consist of electron, protons and neutrons. Protons and neutrons are present with in nucleus while the electrons are present out side the nucleus.

All these three subatomic particles construct an atom. A neutral atom have equal number of proton and electron. In other words we can say that negative and positive charges are equal in magnitude and cancel the each other and atom become neutral. For example if neutral atom has 6 protons than it must have 6 electrons. The sum of neutrons and protons is the mass number of an atom while the number of protons are number of electrons is the atomic number of an atom.

For example

The carbon have six protons and six neutrons so its atomic mass is 12 amu and atomic number is six.